Big Mo's Blog

Rappers Jay-Z and Will.i.am are among the celebrities comprising a wish list for the re-election campaign of President Barack Obama.

The list, which was leaked last week to the Nashville-based newspaper, The Tennessean, includes 194 potential campaign endorsers who are entertainers. In addition to Jay-Z and Will.i.am, singers Alicia Keys, John Legend and Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine comprise the list, as well as India.Arie, Jamie Foxx, George Clooney, Sara Bareilles, Arcade Fire, Counting Crows, Ricky Martin, Josh Groban, Chris Cornell, and Will.i.am’s fellow Black Eyed Peas member Fergie.

“This was a wish list of people and groups who may be asked to participate in a campaign event,” campaign spokesperson Addie Whisenant explained to The Tennessean. “Not everyone on this list has been contact or agreed to help the campaign.”

Being a potential campaign endorser isn’t the first time Jay-Z or Will.i.am have been mentioned in the same breath as Obama. Both rappers have been vocal supporters of Obama, with Jay-Z actively helping to increase voter turnout during the then-Illinois senator’s run for the White House in 2008, in addition to performing for free at voter-drive concerts financed by Obama’s campaign. That following year, Jay-Z was featured on the official remix to fellow rhymesayer Young Jeezy’s song, “My President.”

Like Jay-Z, Will.i.am voiced his support for Obama in 2008. The entertainer contributed “Yes We Can,” a song featuring direct quotes from Obama’s concession speech in the New Hampshire presidential primary. The song, produced by Will.i.am and featured on the album Change Is Now: Renewing America’s Promise was accompanied by a star-studded music video that followed after its release on Feb. 2, 2008.

At this time, it remains to be seen whether Jay-Z and Will.i.am will officially lend their support to Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.